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FINE GAEL TD Joe McHugh will call for closer co-operation between the UK and Ireland when he addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester today.
Donegal deputy McHugh said public services in Border counties should be pooled between the two governments, adding that this would help to cut costs as both countries struggle to implement austerity measures.
He said many services were unnecessarily duplicated and it “makes sense” for Northern Ireland and the Republic to “share services”. McHugh, who is co-chairman of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, will urge Conservative politicians to examine the issue this morning.
The British Government and the Stormont Executive should also work with the Irish Government to cut out the waste and duplication at a North-South level on this island. There is a huge amount of unnecessary duplication on this island. At a time of financial crisis it makes sense for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to pool resources and to share services.
He added “major health and road projects” in the Border area are already being jointly funded by the two governments.
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Joe McHugh, this is an awesome idea. Awesome! I have no idea who you are or what your policies are, but I commend you on this one!
In next weeks news Fine Gael will be proposing that we adopt the UK’s head of state and use their parliament in order to save costs
Worked well the first time… ;)
Fine gael showing their true blue colours!!!!!!!
On the other hand – should , god forbid, we see a President Mitchell emerge – he has promised to only recognise and cooperate with 22 Counties of Ireland – he will probably have to do a geography lesson to find out where England , Scotland and Wales are too!
@Eddie Barrett, If he [President Mitchell] only willing to co-operate with 22 counties in Ireland, which other 4 in the Republic of Ireland is he leaving out? I think you may indeed be the one needing a geography lesson. Also, remember that this presidential race, is solely as a head of the Republic of Ireland, not the entire island. Northern Ireland is a separate jurisdiction, a constituent country of the United Kingdom.
@ Niall, it was Gay Mitchell himself, not Eddie, that stated there were 22 counties in the Republic of Ireland.
jesus h. why do you think sinn fein support reunification, its not just a lofty ideal, it makes serious economic sense. this FG proposal is a step down that road to unity.
Are you mental. The North is a huge financial blackhole that costs the British tax payer over a billion quid a year just to maintain a segregated state.
As far as I recall, it was our banks that “needed” exorbitant bailouts…
Common sense I reckon.
We are not the only country in Europe to have a boarder and to share services. We should draw on experiences elsewhere to see how best this can work. But let’s not pretend this is a unique situation.
Radiotherapy service being made available cross-border for Donegal soon. Good idea for the border counties, otherwise the rest of the country is covered medically
Wonder what the IFA would say about milk supply?
I think the north costs the uk 8 billion a year – we can’t shoulder that
no but you shoulder my and this nations hard earned cash to the fuckn banks to the tune over 70 billion ..,, .what a fuckn stupped comment saffron the north could teach this chicken state a lesson……Martin mc guinness for pres
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